Snap-on clip for bail holder for cans



Jung 18, 1957 D, H RHODES 2,796,193

$NAP0N CLIP FOR BAIL HOLDER FOR CANS Filed Oct. 18, 1955 INVENTOR.

- 00/159] H. Rhodes United States Patent SNAP-0N CLIP FOR BAIL HOLDER FOR CANS Daniel H. Rhodes, San Francisco, Calif.

Application October 18, 1955, Serial No. 541,134

1 Claim. (Cl. 22091) This invention relates to improvements in a snap-on clip for a bail for cans.

The principal object of this invention is to provide means for securing a bail to a pail through the use of a snap-on clip, in counterdistinction to the ordinary bail ears which have heretofore been soldered to the opposite sides of a pail, as for instance in the case of paint cans and the like.

A further object is to provide means for securing a pivoted bail to a can in such a manner that it is not necessary to mutilate a label being placed about the can as has had to be done heretofore through the die-cutting of openings in the label so that it might be passed around the can and over the bail ears.

A still further object is to produce a device of the character described which is economical to manufacture, easy to apply and one which does not require a soldering operation as with the above-mentioned ears.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numbers are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an ordinary can having ears applied thereto and showing the manner in which the label is die-cut to surround the ears;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross section of a can having my clip applied thereto and also shown in cross section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the rim of a can having my clip applied thereto;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the can cover in place and a bail engaging the clip; and

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of the clip end having anti-slide engaging points.

Heretofore paint cans and similar cans having a pivoted handle or bail have been constructed with outstanding circular ears which are soldered to the can on opposite sides thereof, each ear having an opening into which the end of the bail is hooked.

Such construction not only necessitated the soldering of the ears to opposite sides of the pail, but it also required that all labels which encircled the can had to be die cut with exactness so that the die-cut openings would pass over the ears and lie flat against the surface of the can.

This operation materially increased the cost of the labels and added to the time necessary to apply them to the cans.

Applicant has therefore devised a means for securing the pivoted handle or bail to a can through the use of a pair of snap-on clips.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose 5 of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my "ice invention, the numeral 5 designates a can. In Fig. 1 I have shown ears 6, a label 7 having die-cut openings 8, and a bail 9. I propose to eliminate the die-'cut openings 8 and the ears 6.

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the pail 5 has a label 7 which surrounds the can and against which the clip presses. At 11 I have shown a rim which is folded over or crimped to the top edge of the can as is common with this type of can.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a cover 12 which has a downturned portion 13 adapted to engage the groove 14 formed in the rim 11.

The construction thus far described is common to all cans of this type. My invention consists of a clip designated as a whole by the numeral 16 and being bent upon itself so as to have 'a free end 17 adapted to lie against the surface of the can with its end underlying the bead of the can as shown at A. This clip is bent over the top of the rim in such a manner as to follow the cross-sectional contour of the rim and to have a downwardly extending end 18 extending into the groove 14.

The extreme ends of the portions of the clip may be provided with sharpened barbs 19 (see Fig. 5). An opening 21 is provided into which the bent end 22 of the bail 23 is hooked.

The result of this construction is that when the clip is secured to opposite sides of the can, the portion 17 of the 'clip will snap underneath the rim and lock the clip into position and against upward movement. The end 18 serves to pinch the clip tightly against the can and to hold it against sidewise movement. This sidewise movement can be further prevented by providing barbs as shown at 19 in Fig. 5 on both extreme ends of the clip.

It is then necessary only to hook the bail into the opposed !clips and thus provide securing means for the bail without the costs of placing ears on the can or of diecutting the labels.

It will thus be seen that I have produced a device which has all of the advantages above set forth.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a device of the character described for use on a can having a beaded top edge of an elongated strip of relatively stifl spring material, barbs formed on one end of said strip and adapted to engage the underside of said bead when said strip is arranged against the side of said can, said strip being bent upon itself to form an upstanding portion parallel to said portion engaging said can but spaced therefrom, an opening formed in said upstanding portion for the reception of the end of a bail said strip being further bent to conform to the top portion of the can adjacent said bead.

. References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,004,285 Kent June 11, 1935 2,674,391 Davis Apr. 6, 1954 2,710,705 Balint June 14, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 224,116 Great Britain Nov. 6, 1924 

